This book read to me almost like a song, or a lullaby, but not in a sleepy sort of way…more in the form of an immense comfort. It is heartbreaking and emotional, but raw and real. I didn’t expect myself to align with every character in some way, even though they are all flawed in some way or another. A lovely transport to another place and time. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Wow. This story is utterly heartbreaking.
This book captures its reader immediately and takes them on a devastating journey of love and loss.
The characters are beautiful, and their relationships so very rooted in tragedy.
So well written. So well done. Read this one y’all!

Book Club Alert! This is the book your book club should be contemplating for its next read. The author jumps the reader into the book that has two timelines. Immediately you know that a murder has been committed but you are unsure who was the victim and who was the perpetrator. Then you are whisked back into the time - the before of 1955 and then ahead to the present some years later, then the trial and ending it the sixties. The story tracks the lives of Beth and Gabriel in rural England. Two young teens from different social classes with an immediate attraction. Then the story goes into what happened to the two after they part, his life as a successful author, hers as farm wife embracing the country life. More than this would spoil the surprises. and twists. Wonderful characterizations and descriptions await. A book to be savored and inhaled. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

This book was so many genres and twists until the end. Loved this so much. Recommending it to all my friends and my bookclub!

What I enjoyed about the book: The mystery aspect and wanting to find out what happened is the only thing that kept me reading. I liked the way the author ended the book.
What I didn’t like about the book: The timeline was slow and hard to follow and it took at least half of the book for me to start to find it interesting. I found it difficult to get invested in the characters.
Giving this 3 stars. While a lot of it didn't work for me, I managed to get through it in a timely manner.

I'm in the minority on this one. It might have been a better experience for me, if I had read it versus listened to it. It just seemed very long and drawn out. I didn't feel any sort of connection to the characters until the end. I will add a caveat, I was discussing it with friends later and hearing their thoughts made me like the book more. I could understand their perspective and see how they found it more engaging than I did.

3.5 stars

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story tied #1 on my list of BEST books read so far this year! I love a good classic, and this is sure to become one.

I was immersed in the characters and their lives. There is deep love in different ways. There is loss of a child and attempting to heal. There is familial heritage and love.

This is a masterpiece narrative with in-depth characters beautifully interwoven with complex relationships.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#netgalley #BrokenCountry #GeneralFiction ##WomensFiction #Romance #MysteryandThriller

This book.. wow.. First off, thank you Netgalley for an ARC of Reeses newest book club pick. When a dog runs into a herd of sheep viciously attacking them and gets shot, no one has any idea the course of events that will follow. The owner of the farms wife Beth realizes that the owner of the dog is her first love that she never truly got over. While this story plays out, we also go back to when they were young and in love, in addition to a trial that is happening in present day, but we have no idea the crime or who is on trial. This book makes you realize that every action you take in life has an effect on those closest to. you. The symmetry of the events in this novel come so perfectly together at the end, it honestly took my breath away.

I'm calling it - this may end up being my favorite book of 2025! This was beautifully written, propulsive, emotional, and all the things! I loved every single character, even when they were making decisions I didn't agree with, I understood their reasoning for those decisions.

I am blown away by this book. I literally had to sit for 5 minutes after I finished it to let myself just bawl and then collect myself so I could function like a normal person again. I loved every single minute!

I cannot wait to see what this author does next!

I still don't know I feel about this one..........I don't think Beth is the villain, I think it's Gabriel. Frank is innocent in my mind. I did love the ending

Wow - all I can say is that this is definitely my favorite read of the year (so far)! This will make a great movie.
* 4.5 stars *

I found this book to be extremely engaging and immersive in some ways. I really liked the atmosphere in the book and how the solitude becomes a character in some ways, I think that there was some lack of depth in the characters that somehow let them glaze over the reality of the marital relationship and what it was built upon. It is almost like the relationship was so weak that it could be knocked over with a feather, however there was supposedly an intensity that left them clawing for each other nightly. It made for a good read, however it kept me from really becoming attached to the characters. The ending was a bit cut and dried for me, however I did enjoy it for what it was. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

First and foremost I received an E-arc via NetGalley.

Simply incredible! I had no idea what I was getting into. I typically don’t read stories like this and was blown away by its ability to keep me glued to the pages. Great story writing with some lovable and extremely non lovable characters. Read it from start to finish. It’ll definitely shock you.

What I liked: Guessing who was on trial for what, and the twist at the end I didn’t see coming.

What didn’t work for me: The timeline was hard to follow (even as a physical read) and it took at least half of the book for it to get interesting. The major plot point is one that never works for me, the love triangle went way too far.

This emotionally charged historical mystery is perfect for readers who are captivated by stories that explore the intricate dynamics of family relationships, the profound impact of choices made in the past, and the secrets that can haunt generations. As the narrative unfolds, readers will be transported to a bygone era, where they will witness the complexities of human nature and the enduring power of love, loss, and redemption.

Set in the English countryside during the late '60s, Broken Country focuses on three main characters: Beth Johnson, her husband Frank and her first love, Gabriel who has returned to the area with his young son following his recent divorce.

The author reveals early on that someone has been murdered and someone is being tried for that murder, but their identities are unknown until nearly the end of the book. This kept me invested and certainly had me guessing as to how things were going to turn out. The ending was a bit too neat and tidy; however, there were definitely some surprises along the way that I had not expected and did genuinely add more depth to the storyline.

Broken Country was a big disappointment for me. Glamorizing a love triangle that brought so much hurt, tragedy, deceit and heartache to so many good people is not what I consider an entertaining read. This was a Reese's Book Club choice so I was expecting so much more.

Wow. This is up there with my favorites of the year, so far. An emotional, pulling novel. I loved the characters- flaws and all. I found my feelings and perspectives changing for each of the characters throughout the story. I thought I knew where the story was going, but it took me elsewhere and ripped out my heart. I'm going to need to sit with this one awhile and process it. It was a combination of the writing styles of Where the Crawdads Sing and the books of William Kent Kruger- at least the worlds felt similar to me.

This book tells the story of a woman caught in a love triangle when her first love comes back to town. The family dynamics and secrets lead to a murder that tears apart two families. It was written so beautifully that your heart ached for Beth as she tried to navigate the love she had for both men in her life while also dealing with the grief of losing her son. Partly love story, partly mystery and partly the journey of emotional healing this is a book I will be recommending to all who love a good story.

WOWZER. This book was excellent. I went into it blind and was not disappointed at all. The characters and character development were executed so well. A beautiful story of loss love and life. 5 star read!

This was an emotionally complicated story about a farmer's wife who upturns her own life, and that of her family, when her first love and heartbreak returns to their tiny rural town.
This book illustrates how one person's poor decisions can have far-reaching, and possibly devastating, consequences.
There were several timelines happening here, but it was easy enough to follow.
Thanks to #netgalley and #simonandschuster for this #arc of #brokencountry by #clarelesliehall in exchange for an honest review.